ABC - Business Newshttp://stillwaterradio.net
Business and Economic News and Headlines From ABC News Radioen-us(c) ABC News RadioExpectant mom has fun maternity shoot at her favorite storehttp://stillwaterradio.net/abc-business-news/7445272369c935df8c4f3b9106f08b5e
Thu, 17 Aug 2017 16:57:00 -0500http://stillwaterradio.net/abc-business-news/7445272369c935df8c4f3b9106f08b5eInspired By A True Story Photography(NEW YORK) -- One Target-loving mom decided to return to the store to celebrate her third child.

Page Miller, a professional photographer, told ABC News she lives approximately four minutes away from her local target in St. Louis, Missouri.

"Really, to get anywhere in my town, you have to pass it," she added. "It's where we go for everything."

So when her friend and fellow photographer, Heather Pippin of Inspired By A True Story Photography, came up with the idea to turn a routine trip to her favorite box store into her maternity shoot, the mother of three couldn't resist.

It was especially important for Miller, 24, to celebrate the upcoming birth of her third child, who will become a little brother or sister to her 2-year-old daughter, Avery.

Miller's last child with longtime partner Brad Fincher passed away last year from sudden infant death syndrome.

So the two photographers trekked to Target late last month, running through the aisles and posing with not only food, but clothing found in the store.

Pippin, who's been doing professional photography since 2011, said they two got a few "funny looks [from] few people, like, 'OMG, are they really doing that?' But [mostly] everyone thought it was funny and entertaining."

Miller's favorite part of the one-hour photo shoot was sitting on the floor, eating a canister of cheese puffs. "Avery is obsessed with them," the mother added of her eldest child.

The expectant mother also held up two onesies -- one seemingly for a boy and another for a girl -- to signify that the family doesn't plan to find out the sex of their child until their baby is born later this month. They're expecting his or her arrival on Aug. 25.

]]>Inspired By A True Story Photography(NEW YORK) -- One Target-loving mom decided to return to the store to celebrate her third child.

Page Miller, a professional photographer, told ABC News she lives approximately four minutes away from her local target in St. Louis, Missouri.

"Really, to get anywhere in my town, you have to pass it," she added. "It's where we go for everything."

So when her friend and fellow photographer, Heather Pippin of Inspired By A True Story Photography, came up with the idea to turn a routine trip to her favorite box store into her maternity shoot, the mother of three couldn't resist.

It was especially important for Miller, 24, to celebrate the upcoming birth of her third child, who will become a little brother or sister to her 2-year-old daughter, Avery.

Miller's last child with longtime partner Brad Fincher passed away last year from sudden infant death syndrome.

So the two photographers trekked to Target late last month, running through the aisles and posing with not only food, but clothing found in the store.

Pippin, who's been doing professional photography since 2011, said they two got a few "funny looks [from] few people, like, 'OMG, are they really doing that?' But [mostly] everyone thought it was funny and entertaining."

Miller's favorite part of the one-hour photo shoot was sitting on the floor, eating a canister of cheese puffs. "Avery is obsessed with them," the mother added of her eldest child.

The expectant mother also held up two onesies -- one seemingly for a boy and another for a girl -- to signify that the family doesn't plan to find out the sex of their child until their baby is born later this month. They're expecting his or her arrival on Aug. 25.

]]>Google awards Uruguay high school student $10K for finding security bughttp://stillwaterradio.net/abc-business-news/5cd67591b47ce627d615df4978253ac2
Thu, 17 Aug 2017 15:51:00 -0500http://stillwaterradio.net/abc-business-news/5cd67591b47ce627d615df4978253ac2Leon Neal/Getty Images(NEW YORK) -- A 17-year-old high school student from Uruguay who taught himself computer programming was awarded $10,000 from Google for discovering a security bug.

Ezequiel Pereira, of Montevido, Uruguay discovered the bug last month during a break from school.

I was really bored at home, during my winter vacation," Pereira, who blogged about his discovery, told ABC News by email. "And luckily that day I had the idea to do the trial and error that led to the discovery.”

The security bug Pereira discovered was in Google's App Engine server. He was able to find a point of access for internal Google websites -- the dashboard for the company’s technology support team, for example, without being authenticated.

We had seen something similar before and we fixed it but he found a part that hadn’t fixed it correctly,” Eduardo Vela, Google's Vulnerability Rewards Program Technical Lead, told ABC News. “He was looking in the right place at the right time.”

Pereira opened the email notifying him that he won the $10,000 award this month while riding the bus home from school.

Google has distributed monetary prizes to non-employees who self-submit their findings since 2010 through its Vulnerability Rewards Program. The amount of money awarded ranges from $100 to $31,357, according to Nava.

Pereira hopes to attend college in the U.S. and plans to save the $10,000.

He received his first computer at the age of 10 through a government program that gave computers to public school students.

The thing I love of computers is that they are capable of doing everything if you give them enough resources and you know how to tell them to do anything,” he said. “Homework is boring. Looking for bugs is fun.”

]]>Leon Neal/Getty Images(NEW YORK) -- A 17-year-old high school student from Uruguay who taught himself computer programming was awarded $10,000 from Google for discovering a security bug.

Ezequiel Pereira, of Montevido, Uruguay discovered the bug last month during a break from school.

I was really bored at home, during my winter vacation," Pereira, who blogged about his discovery, told ABC News by email. "And luckily that day I had the idea to do the trial and error that led to the discovery.”

The security bug Pereira discovered was in Google's App Engine server. He was able to find a point of access for internal Google websites -- the dashboard for the company’s technology support team, for example, without being authenticated.

We had seen something similar before and we fixed it but he found a part that hadn’t fixed it correctly,” Eduardo Vela, Google's Vulnerability Rewards Program Technical Lead, told ABC News. “He was looking in the right place at the right time.”

Pereira opened the email notifying him that he won the $10,000 award this month while riding the bus home from school.

Google has distributed monetary prizes to non-employees who self-submit their findings since 2010 through its Vulnerability Rewards Program. The amount of money awarded ranges from $100 to $31,357, according to Nava.

Pereira hopes to attend college in the U.S. and plans to save the $10,000.

He received his first computer at the age of 10 through a government program that gave computers to public school students.

The thing I love of computers is that they are capable of doing everything if you give them enough resources and you know how to tell them to do anything,” he said. “Homework is boring. Looking for bugs is fun.”

]]>Total solar eclipse 2017: How to save money on travel and avoid scamshttp://stillwaterradio.net/abc-business-news/4d0f915b4c093b04780db470b9b6b483
Thu, 17 Aug 2017 09:16:00 -0500http://stillwaterradio.net/abc-business-news/4d0f915b4c093b04780db470b9b6b483iStock/Thinkstock(NEW YORK) -- Monday is predicted to be one of the busiest travel days of 2017 as millions of people flock to the 14 states across the United States in the path of the total solar eclipse.

In South Carolina, the last state on the eclipse's path, hotel occupancy along the path could be doubled compared to what South Carolina normally sees in the third week in August, according to the South Carolina Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism.

The University of South Carolina in Columbia, South Carolina, pushed its student “move-in day” back one day from Aug. 21 due to traffic and lodging concerns associated with the eclipse.

The Hilton and Marriott hotels along the eclipse’s prime viewing area, known as the path of totality, are nearly full, the companies told ABC News.

The total eclipse, the brief phase of the celestial event when the moon completely blocks out the sun, will be best seen in certain cities, including Salem, Oregon, Jackson, Wyoming, and Charleston, South Carolina.

Hotel rooms still available in the prime viewing areas may be pricey but there are still opportunities to save money, experts say.

“There are still deals to be found, even in the path of totality,” Mark Ellwood, contributing editor for Conde Nast Traveler, told ABC News. “You just have to be a little clever how you look for them.”

Hipcamp, an online travel service for camping experiences, lists more than 1,000 eclipse-friendly campsites.

Bivouac Campground in Oregon’s Smith Rock State Park still has room for eclipse viewers to pitch a tent for as little as $5 per person.

Airbnb, the online lodging marketplace, reports it still has more than 29,000 rentals available across the eclipse’s path.

“It's Airbnb's magic moment,” Conde Nast’s Ellwood said. “There are plenty of families who live within the path of totality who have realized that the spare room can make them a little bit of money, so check Airbnb's site and look for the key word eclipse.”

He added, “You'll be surprised what you might find.”

For flights, Ellwood suggests flying into Denver, a major transportation hub that may be cheaper than flying into cities like Casper, Wyoming, that are directly on the eclipse’s path.

“It’s not in the path of totality but its close enough you can drive from there,” Ellwood said of Denver International Airport, which plans to hand out moon pies and eclipse glasses Monday.

As with any major commercial event, experts also say, watch out for scams.

“Perhaps some unscrupulous hotels will cancel early reservations and turn around and charge more for those rooms,” said Emma Fletcher, director of scam and fraud initiatives for the BBB Institute for Marketplace Trust. “And, of course, there are risks no matter what but you want to minimize those risks.”

The trade group that represents hotel owners, the American Hotel and Lodging Association, encourages consumers to book directly with hotels to get the best deal.

“We encourage guests to book directly with the hotel to help ensure they get what they want and need from their reservation while often offering the better value,” the association said in a statement.

In South Carolina, the last state on the eclipse's path, hotel occupancy along the path could be doubled compared to what South Carolina normally sees in the third week in August, according to the South Carolina Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism.

The University of South Carolina in Columbia, South Carolina, pushed its student “move-in day” back one day from Aug. 21 due to traffic and lodging concerns associated with the eclipse.

The Hilton and Marriott hotels along the eclipse’s prime viewing area, known as the path of totality, are nearly full, the companies told ABC News.

The total eclipse, the brief phase of the celestial event when the moon completely blocks out the sun, will be best seen in certain cities, including Salem, Oregon, Jackson, Wyoming, and Charleston, South Carolina.

Hotel rooms still available in the prime viewing areas may be pricey but there are still opportunities to save money, experts say.

“There are still deals to be found, even in the path of totality,” Mark Ellwood, contributing editor for Conde Nast Traveler, told ABC News. “You just have to be a little clever how you look for them.”

Hipcamp, an online travel service for camping experiences, lists more than 1,000 eclipse-friendly campsites.

Bivouac Campground in Oregon’s Smith Rock State Park still has room for eclipse viewers to pitch a tent for as little as $5 per person.

Airbnb, the online lodging marketplace, reports it still has more than 29,000 rentals available across the eclipse’s path.

“It's Airbnb's magic moment,” Conde Nast’s Ellwood said. “There are plenty of families who live within the path of totality who have realized that the spare room can make them a little bit of money, so check Airbnb's site and look for the key word eclipse.”

He added, “You'll be surprised what you might find.”

For flights, Ellwood suggests flying into Denver, a major transportation hub that may be cheaper than flying into cities like Casper, Wyoming, that are directly on the eclipse’s path.

“It’s not in the path of totality but its close enough you can drive from there,” Ellwood said of Denver International Airport, which plans to hand out moon pies and eclipse glasses Monday.

As with any major commercial event, experts also say, watch out for scams.

“Perhaps some unscrupulous hotels will cancel early reservations and turn around and charge more for those rooms,” said Emma Fletcher, director of scam and fraud initiatives for the BBB Institute for Marketplace Trust. “And, of course, there are risks no matter what but you want to minimize those risks.”

The trade group that represents hotel owners, the American Hotel and Lodging Association, encourages consumers to book directly with hotels to get the best deal.

“We encourage guests to book directly with the hotel to help ensure they get what they want and need from their reservation while often offering the better value,” the association said in a statement.

]]>Report: Cutting Obamacare subsidies could hike some premiumshttp://stillwaterradio.net/abc-business-news/ab2bf57c7bd98f4409a9de44ac5ff752
Tue, 15 Aug 2017 18:48:00 -0500http://stillwaterradio.net/abc-business-news/ab2bf57c7bd98f4409a9de44ac5ff752Creatas/Thinkstock(WASHINGTON) -- Health insurance premiums could rise by roughly 20 percent next year for some consumers if President Donald Trump decides to end key Obamacare subsidy payments to insurers, according to a new analysis from the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office.

Prepared at the request of congressional Democrats, the estimate sought to model the impact of Trump carrying out his threat to pull back the cost-sharing reduction (CSR) payments to insurers that help lower health care costs for low-income Americans.

If a new HealthCare Bill is not approved quickly, BAILOUTS for Insurance Companies and BAILOUTS for Members of Congress will end very soon!

"Implementing the policy would increase the federal deficit, on net, by $194 billion from 2017 through 2026," the report also reads.

According to the analysis released Tuesday, the number of uninsured Americans would increase next year without the subsidy payments, but become slightly lower -- relative to the current figures -- beginning in 2020.

The CSR payments, valued at approximately $7 billion this year, are made monthly, and the next installment is due on Aug. 21. While Republicans and Democrats in Congress want to continue the payments to stabilize insurance markets, it's unclear what the White House will do in the coming weeks, given Trump's threats to let Obamacare fail.

Senate Republicans failed to advance their bill to repeal and replace Obamacare last month, coming up one vote short.

]]>Creatas/Thinkstock(WASHINGTON) -- Health insurance premiums could rise by roughly 20 percent next year for some consumers if President Donald Trump decides to end key Obamacare subsidy payments to insurers, according to a new analysis from the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office.

Prepared at the request of congressional Democrats, the estimate sought to model the impact of Trump carrying out his threat to pull back the cost-sharing reduction (CSR) payments to insurers that help lower health care costs for low-income Americans.

If a new HealthCare Bill is not approved quickly, BAILOUTS for Insurance Companies and BAILOUTS for Members of Congress will end very soon!

"Implementing the policy would increase the federal deficit, on net, by $194 billion from 2017 through 2026," the report also reads.

According to the analysis released Tuesday, the number of uninsured Americans would increase next year without the subsidy payments, but become slightly lower -- relative to the current figures -- beginning in 2020.

The CSR payments, valued at approximately $7 billion this year, are made monthly, and the next installment is due on Aug. 21. While Republicans and Democrats in Congress want to continue the payments to stabilize insurance markets, it's unclear what the White House will do in the coming weeks, given Trump's threats to let Obamacare fail.

Senate Republicans failed to advance their bill to repeal and replace Obamacare last month, coming up one vote short.

]]>Trump: CEOs leaving advisory council 'out of embarrassment'http://stillwaterradio.net/abc-business-news/c0637aee159a31ed10766ad0a57b5f81
Tue, 15 Aug 2017 18:41:00 -0500http://stillwaterradio.net/abc-business-news/c0637aee159a31ed10766ad0a57b5f81ABC News(NEW YORK) -- After four members of his American Manufacturing Council resigned earlier this week, President Donald Trump explained away the actions as ones made out of "embarrassment" over the issue of outsourcing.

"Some of the folks that will leave, they're leaving out of embarrassment because they make their products outside [of the United States,]" Trump said Tuesday as he fielded questions following scheduled remarks on his infrastructure plans.

This week, the CEOs of Merck, Intel, Under Armour and the president of the Alliance for American Manufacturing all announced their departures from the advisory panel in the wake of Trump's response to the violence in Charlottesville, Virginia, Saturday.

Two more leaders, Richard Trumka, president of the AFL-CIO labor union, and Thea Lee, the AFL-CIO's former deputy chief of staff, announced their resignations following Trump's comments, which assigned "blame" to protesters on "both sides" last weekend.

Trump said that he had been "lecturing" business leaders about returning manufacturing to the U.S.

"You have to bring this work back to this country," said Trump Tuesday. "That's what I want. I want manufacturing to be back into the United States so that American workers can benefit."

The president has himself admitted to producing Trump-branded products internationally on various occasions after it became a critique of his rivals during last year's presidential election. As recently as mid-July, during the White House's self-proclaimed "Made in America" week, then-press secretary Sean Spicer explained Trump's rationale for allowing such items to be manufactured overseas.

"I can tell you that in some cases, there are certain supply chains or scalability that may not be available in this country," said Spicer on July 17.

Merck CEO Kenneth Frazier announced Monday that he was resigning from the president's council, saying in statement that as a "matter of personal conscience, I feel a responsibility to take a stand against intolerance and extremism."

"America's leaders must honor our fundamental values by clearly rejecting expressions of hatred, bigotry and group supremacy, which run counter to the American ideal that all people are created equal," he said.

The president responded first on Twitter, slamming Frazier's decision.

Now that Ken Frazier of Merck Pharma has resigned from President's Manufacturing Council,he will have more time to LOWER RIPOFF DRUG PRICES!

Since then, Frazier has been joined by Intel's Brian Krzanich, Under Armour's Kevin Planck and the Alliance for American Manufacturing's Scott Paul in leaving the group.

On Saturday, Trump said the hatred, bigotry and violence in Charlottesville need to end on "many sides."

He was summarily criticized for not directly condemning white supremacist and extremist groups.

A White House official said Trump was "condemning hatred, bigotry and violence from all sources and all sides" when asked what he meant when he condemned the "many sides" involved in violence in Charlottesville.

On Monday, Trump issued a second statement, taking a stronger stance on hate groups, including white supremacists, in remarks from the White House.

"Racism is evil," said Trump, two days after a driver rammed a car into a crowd of people in the midst of violent clashes over a white nationalist rally in the city. "And those who cause violence in its name are criminals and thugs, including the [Ku Klux Klan], neo-Nazis, white supremacists and other hate groups that are repugnant to everything we hold dear as Americans."

Just after taking office, Trump announced the establishment of a manufacturing council, with Frazier as the only black male executive included.

Trump called Frazier one of the "great, great leaders of business in the country" at a July 30 event at the White House.

]]>ABC News(NEW YORK) -- After four members of his American Manufacturing Council resigned earlier this week, President Donald Trump explained away the actions as ones made out of "embarrassment" over the issue of outsourcing.

"Some of the folks that will leave, they're leaving out of embarrassment because they make their products outside [of the United States,]" Trump said Tuesday as he fielded questions following scheduled remarks on his infrastructure plans.

This week, the CEOs of Merck, Intel, Under Armour and the president of the Alliance for American Manufacturing all announced their departures from the advisory panel in the wake of Trump's response to the violence in Charlottesville, Virginia, Saturday.

Two more leaders, Richard Trumka, president of the AFL-CIO labor union, and Thea Lee, the AFL-CIO's former deputy chief of staff, announced their resignations following Trump's comments, which assigned "blame" to protesters on "both sides" last weekend.

Trump said that he had been "lecturing" business leaders about returning manufacturing to the U.S.

"You have to bring this work back to this country," said Trump Tuesday. "That's what I want. I want manufacturing to be back into the United States so that American workers can benefit."

The president has himself admitted to producing Trump-branded products internationally on various occasions after it became a critique of his rivals during last year's presidential election. As recently as mid-July, during the White House's self-proclaimed "Made in America" week, then-press secretary Sean Spicer explained Trump's rationale for allowing such items to be manufactured overseas.

"I can tell you that in some cases, there are certain supply chains or scalability that may not be available in this country," said Spicer on July 17.

Merck CEO Kenneth Frazier announced Monday that he was resigning from the president's council, saying in statement that as a "matter of personal conscience, I feel a responsibility to take a stand against intolerance and extremism."

"America's leaders must honor our fundamental values by clearly rejecting expressions of hatred, bigotry and group supremacy, which run counter to the American ideal that all people are created equal," he said.

The president responded first on Twitter, slamming Frazier's decision.

Now that Ken Frazier of Merck Pharma has resigned from President's Manufacturing Council,he will have more time to LOWER RIPOFF DRUG PRICES!

Since then, Frazier has been joined by Intel's Brian Krzanich, Under Armour's Kevin Planck and the Alliance for American Manufacturing's Scott Paul in leaving the group.

On Saturday, Trump said the hatred, bigotry and violence in Charlottesville need to end on "many sides."

He was summarily criticized for not directly condemning white supremacist and extremist groups.

A White House official said Trump was "condemning hatred, bigotry and violence from all sources and all sides" when asked what he meant when he condemned the "many sides" involved in violence in Charlottesville.

On Monday, Trump issued a second statement, taking a stronger stance on hate groups, including white supremacists, in remarks from the White House.

"Racism is evil," said Trump, two days after a driver rammed a car into a crowd of people in the midst of violent clashes over a white nationalist rally in the city. "And those who cause violence in its name are criminals and thugs, including the [Ku Klux Klan], neo-Nazis, white supremacists and other hate groups that are repugnant to everything we hold dear as Americans."

Just after taking office, Trump announced the establishment of a manufacturing council, with Frazier as the only black male executive included.

Trump called Frazier one of the "great, great leaders of business in the country" at a July 30 event at the White House.

"Albert is part of our everyday life," Pinvidic said. "I see him every morning and evening. He will follow us everywhere almost all day. He simply wants attention and to cuddle. He’s very much like our dogs."

"He’s a complete showoff," Pinvidic said. "He only wants attention. He doesn’t want food, he doesn’t want to play, he just wants you to notice him. He’s very pompous. He really believes he is the most interesting thing going on wherever he is."

The turkey, who has 9,000 Instagram followers, has inspired his own animal rescue foundation, Albert and Friends. The organization was formed after Albert's rescue and primarily works with St. Bonnie's shelter, which takes in cats, dogs and horses, among other animals.

"His fans get a lot of joy from his posts and his interaction and that makes us very happy. We hope to expose more people to the joy of rescue animals," Pinvidic said.

"Albert is part of our everyday life," Pinvidic said. "I see him every morning and evening. He will follow us everywhere almost all day. He simply wants attention and to cuddle. He’s very much like our dogs."

"He’s a complete showoff," Pinvidic said. "He only wants attention. He doesn’t want food, he doesn’t want to play, he just wants you to notice him. He’s very pompous. He really believes he is the most interesting thing going on wherever he is."

The turkey, who has 9,000 Instagram followers, has inspired his own animal rescue foundation, Albert and Friends. The organization was formed after Albert's rescue and primarily works with St. Bonnie's shelter, which takes in cats, dogs and horses, among other animals.

"His fans get a lot of joy from his posts and his interaction and that makes us very happy. We hope to expose more people to the joy of rescue animals," Pinvidic said.

]]>7-year-old hosts princess party for foster kids at Disney Worldhttp://stillwaterradio.net/abc-business-news/a56ad071434f6a44f406b46c702b8ec9
Tue, 15 Aug 2017 13:26:00 -0500http://stillwaterradio.net/abc-business-news/a56ad071434f6a44f406b46c702b8ec9Positive Proof Productions(ORLANDO, Fla.) -- A 7-year-old has led an effort that gave a group of girls, many in foster care, the ultimate princess experience at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida.

Jordan West hosted the special event known as "Princess for a Day," in which 14 girls joined her at the Magic Kingdom for a fun day filled with rides and meeting their favorite Disney princesses.

Jordan raised nearly $10,000 through fundraising efforts, with the help of her mom, Olivia West.

"She's really excited to interact with the girls," West of Rochester, New York, told ABC News about her daughter. "She writes affirmations for these girls [that say], 'You are beautiful, you are loved.' That really touches me as a mom and I really hope that she continues thinking about others."

West, a mom of three, said Jordan is familiar with giving back to others thanks to her two 12-year-old brothers, Jeremiah and Joshua. The two run their own organization, "Champions of Change," which gives back to those who are less fortunate through charitable outreaches.

In July 2016, Jordan held her very first princess party at the now-closed Sweet and Sassy children's spa in Pittsford, New York. About 24 girls who were in foster care at the time attended the event. They were transported to the salon in a limo and received gifts from Jordan, including pink travel bags.

West said that the White House caught wind of Jordan's princess party and invited her to Washington, D.C., to host another one months later. About 115 girls who lived in the area participated in the event.

This year, Jordan and her mom received a suggestion to host a more over-the-top "Princess for a Day" experience at Walt Disney World.

In addition to private donations, Jordan held garage sales, lemonade sales and a "Pennies for Princesses" event where she asked her friends and family to come to the local bank and donate their pennies for her cause. Jordan also sells a children's book she wrote titled, "Princess for a Day," on Amazon and on the Champions of Change website. All of the profits went towards funding for her Disney princess party, West said.

On Aug. 4, 15 girls including Jordan arrived in Orlando for the princess party. Many of the children were in foster care.

The girls were treated to a party and princess spa experience at the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique at Cinderella's Castle. They received park passes, gift bags, princess gowns and had meet-and-greets with Disney princesses.

“They had a lot of activities for them, a lot of surprises for them along the way so I think it went very well,” said Tan Mitchell, a Florida resident who brought her foster daughter to the event and chaperoned three girls. “For this organization to step in and do this was really amazing. It really did a lot to make these girls smile and make them feel like princesses for a day.”

Taren Sykes Harris, spokeswoman for the Pinellas Council On Adoptable Children in partnership with Pinellas County Foster Care Association, said four children affiliated with her organization attended Jordan's princess party.

"I know all the children had a wonderful time at the event and it was overwhelming," Harris said. "It was an experience that they will remember for a lifetime. We were so grateful and honored to participate."

West said that she and Jordan have received many thank you notes from the girls and their foster moms since the trip to Disney World.

"We wanted it to be the best day ever," West said. "Learning about foster care and [how] some of these kids have traumatic experiences and unpleasant memories, it's nice to be able to place some great memories in their memory box."

Jordan hopes to host more princess parties for young girls in the future.

]]>Positive Proof Productions(ORLANDO, Fla.) -- A 7-year-old has led an effort that gave a group of girls, many in foster care, the ultimate princess experience at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida.

Jordan West hosted the special event known as "Princess for a Day," in which 14 girls joined her at the Magic Kingdom for a fun day filled with rides and meeting their favorite Disney princesses.

Jordan raised nearly $10,000 through fundraising efforts, with the help of her mom, Olivia West.

"She's really excited to interact with the girls," West of Rochester, New York, told ABC News about her daughter. "She writes affirmations for these girls [that say], 'You are beautiful, you are loved.' That really touches me as a mom and I really hope that she continues thinking about others."

West, a mom of three, said Jordan is familiar with giving back to others thanks to her two 12-year-old brothers, Jeremiah and Joshua. The two run their own organization, "Champions of Change," which gives back to those who are less fortunate through charitable outreaches.

In July 2016, Jordan held her very first princess party at the now-closed Sweet and Sassy children's spa in Pittsford, New York. About 24 girls who were in foster care at the time attended the event. They were transported to the salon in a limo and received gifts from Jordan, including pink travel bags.

West said that the White House caught wind of Jordan's princess party and invited her to Washington, D.C., to host another one months later. About 115 girls who lived in the area participated in the event.

This year, Jordan and her mom received a suggestion to host a more over-the-top "Princess for a Day" experience at Walt Disney World.

In addition to private donations, Jordan held garage sales, lemonade sales and a "Pennies for Princesses" event where she asked her friends and family to come to the local bank and donate their pennies for her cause. Jordan also sells a children's book she wrote titled, "Princess for a Day," on Amazon and on the Champions of Change website. All of the profits went towards funding for her Disney princess party, West said.

On Aug. 4, 15 girls including Jordan arrived in Orlando for the princess party. Many of the children were in foster care.

The girls were treated to a party and princess spa experience at the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique at Cinderella's Castle. They received park passes, gift bags, princess gowns and had meet-and-greets with Disney princesses.

“They had a lot of activities for them, a lot of surprises for them along the way so I think it went very well,” said Tan Mitchell, a Florida resident who brought her foster daughter to the event and chaperoned three girls. “For this organization to step in and do this was really amazing. It really did a lot to make these girls smile and make them feel like princesses for a day.”

Taren Sykes Harris, spokeswoman for the Pinellas Council On Adoptable Children in partnership with Pinellas County Foster Care Association, said four children affiliated with her organization attended Jordan's princess party.

"I know all the children had a wonderful time at the event and it was overwhelming," Harris said. "It was an experience that they will remember for a lifetime. We were so grateful and honored to participate."

West said that she and Jordan have received many thank you notes from the girls and their foster moms since the trip to Disney World.

"We wanted it to be the best day ever," West said. "Learning about foster care and [how] some of these kids have traumatic experiences and unpleasant memories, it's nice to be able to place some great memories in their memory box."

Jordan hopes to host more princess parties for young girls in the future.

The company was Ashley Stewart. It was founded in 1991 as one of the first and only fashion brands for plus-sized, African-American women. It was built around the idea of serving a community. Store managers were referred to as “Miss Ashley” by shoppers. Grandmothers, mothers and daughters would shop together for special occasion clothing. And in 2013, it was on the brink of declaring bankruptcy for the second time. That’s when Rhee -- an Asian-American man, the son of Korean immigrants, with no retail experience at all -- stepped up to take over as CEO. He left behind his career as a financial investor to run Ashley Stewart and give the brand one last shot to stay alive.

“It was one of those things where ... I just felt what was going to happen to the business was wrong,” said Rhee. “The company hadn’t had a really fair shot in a long time.”

He went on, “I think as an investor, you’re trained not to be emotional,” said Rhee. “But I think some of your best investments of money and your time are things driven by emotion. But you have to have the rational sense to make sense of that emotion.”

For Rhee, that emotion was tethered to his own experience, growing up a first-generation American in New York. His father, a pediatrician, became involved in their community through his work. But Rhee’s mother remained home to take care of him and his two siblings. English remained a barrier.

“I remember her asking for some anti-rust spray at a local hardware store,” Rhee shared. “And she was treated really poorly. And I remember going in there and saying – you know, I must’ve been 14 years old – and saying, 'Why would you speak to my mother like that? It’s not nice.’”

He continued, “There were times growing up when I saw my mom enter into a place where she could speak Korean, and she was a different person. Like, she was just so comfortable. I could see it in her neckline, her shoulders – the stress was out.”

Today, Ashley Stewart is thriving. Its digital business is booming, the customer base has grown, and the brand is leveraging its name to help promote new entrepreneurs from the same community it serves. But for Rhee, the last four years were not about serving one particular brand, nor one particular community.

“I really believe people are the same,” he said. “At the end of the day – particularly after being a father – what [people] want is just to have something decent for their kids. And to be able to feed them, and send them to a good school, if they want to go to school, and to have grandkids. I really believe it’s that simple.”

To hear about Rhee’s own story, check out the full conversation on this week’s episode of "Uncomfortable."

Download and subscribe to the "Uncomfortable" podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Play Music, Stitcher, and ABC News podcasts.

Rhee was interviewed as part of a series called "Uncomfortable," hosted by Amna Nawaz, that offers in-depth honest conversations with influential figures about issues dividing America.

The company was Ashley Stewart. It was founded in 1991 as one of the first and only fashion brands for plus-sized, African-American women. It was built around the idea of serving a community. Store managers were referred to as “Miss Ashley” by shoppers. Grandmothers, mothers and daughters would shop together for special occasion clothing. And in 2013, it was on the brink of declaring bankruptcy for the second time. That’s when Rhee -- an Asian-American man, the son of Korean immigrants, with no retail experience at all -- stepped up to take over as CEO. He left behind his career as a financial investor to run Ashley Stewart and give the brand one last shot to stay alive.

“It was one of those things where ... I just felt what was going to happen to the business was wrong,” said Rhee. “The company hadn’t had a really fair shot in a long time.”

He went on, “I think as an investor, you’re trained not to be emotional,” said Rhee. “But I think some of your best investments of money and your time are things driven by emotion. But you have to have the rational sense to make sense of that emotion.”

For Rhee, that emotion was tethered to his own experience, growing up a first-generation American in New York. His father, a pediatrician, became involved in their community through his work. But Rhee’s mother remained home to take care of him and his two siblings. English remained a barrier.

“I remember her asking for some anti-rust spray at a local hardware store,” Rhee shared. “And she was treated really poorly. And I remember going in there and saying – you know, I must’ve been 14 years old – and saying, 'Why would you speak to my mother like that? It’s not nice.’”

He continued, “There were times growing up when I saw my mom enter into a place where she could speak Korean, and she was a different person. Like, she was just so comfortable. I could see it in her neckline, her shoulders – the stress was out.”

Today, Ashley Stewart is thriving. Its digital business is booming, the customer base has grown, and the brand is leveraging its name to help promote new entrepreneurs from the same community it serves. But for Rhee, the last four years were not about serving one particular brand, nor one particular community.

“I really believe people are the same,” he said. “At the end of the day – particularly after being a father – what [people] want is just to have something decent for their kids. And to be able to feed them, and send them to a good school, if they want to go to school, and to have grandkids. I really believe it’s that simple.”

To hear about Rhee’s own story, check out the full conversation on this week’s episode of "Uncomfortable."

Download and subscribe to the "Uncomfortable" podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Play Music, Stitcher, and ABC News podcasts.

Rhee was interviewed as part of a series called "Uncomfortable," hosted by Amna Nawaz, that offers in-depth honest conversations with influential figures about issues dividing America.

“Use apps to scan the weekly ads and snap up the 50-cent deals on pens, pencils and crayons at stores like Walmart and Staples,” she said.How can parents buy now for the entire school year?

“Shop the warehouse stores,” said Freeman. “Costco and Sam’s Club are your best bet for heavily discounted bulk purchases of things you need to replenish often, such as computer paper (less than a penny a sheet) and plastic sandwich bags (2 cents a bag). Shop with another parent to split the cost of membership and bulk purchases.”

Clothes are always a big expense this time of year. How can parents save on them?

“Load up on T-shirts starting at just $5,” she said. “Stores like Five Below and Target have tons of super-cheap and super-cute graphic T-shirts, which are hot this year. [There are also] tanks for girls at only $3 and sneakers from Five Below are just $5.”

Freeman also said to “stock up on end-of-season bargains and hold off on fall wardrobes.”

“Wait for Columbus Day sales to load up on fall shoes and apparel as well as sporting goods,” she explained. “The next few weeks are best for closeouts on summer clothing, which your kids will be wearing for at least the first couple of months of school.”

What can parents hold off on buying now but save on later?

“Check for student discounts,” said Freeman. “Bring along those student IDs and take advantage of 10 to 15 percent student discounts at PacSun, Levi’s, H&M, Forever 21, J. Crew and many other stores.”

Tech is a big expense. What can parents do to bring those prices down?

“The No. 1 way to maximize your savings [is to] buy a refurb,” said Freeman. “A refurb can save you up to 60 percent or more. Just be sure to buy from reputable sellers, check return policies and read product descriptions. One of the biggest sellers of refurbs is Ebay.”

She also suggested checking for student discount programs.

“Go online to find out about the programs before you head into the stores,” she said. “Best Buy, Dell and Apple offer student deals that can save you hundreds of dollars. Also, you can get Microsoft Office Suite software for free with a student email address.”

“Use apps to scan the weekly ads and snap up the 50-cent deals on pens, pencils and crayons at stores like Walmart and Staples,” she said.How can parents buy now for the entire school year?

“Shop the warehouse stores,” said Freeman. “Costco and Sam’s Club are your best bet for heavily discounted bulk purchases of things you need to replenish often, such as computer paper (less than a penny a sheet) and plastic sandwich bags (2 cents a bag). Shop with another parent to split the cost of membership and bulk purchases.”

Clothes are always a big expense this time of year. How can parents save on them?

“Load up on T-shirts starting at just $5,” she said. “Stores like Five Below and Target have tons of super-cheap and super-cute graphic T-shirts, which are hot this year. [There are also] tanks for girls at only $3 and sneakers from Five Below are just $5.”

Freeman also said to “stock up on end-of-season bargains and hold off on fall wardrobes.”

“Wait for Columbus Day sales to load up on fall shoes and apparel as well as sporting goods,” she explained. “The next few weeks are best for closeouts on summer clothing, which your kids will be wearing for at least the first couple of months of school.”

What can parents hold off on buying now but save on later?

“Check for student discounts,” said Freeman. “Bring along those student IDs and take advantage of 10 to 15 percent student discounts at PacSun, Levi’s, H&M, Forever 21, J. Crew and many other stores.”

Tech is a big expense. What can parents do to bring those prices down?

“The No. 1 way to maximize your savings [is to] buy a refurb,” said Freeman. “A refurb can save you up to 60 percent or more. Just be sure to buy from reputable sellers, check return policies and read product descriptions. One of the biggest sellers of refurbs is Ebay.”

She also suggested checking for student discount programs.

“Go online to find out about the programs before you head into the stores,” she said. “Best Buy, Dell and Apple offer student deals that can save you hundreds of dollars. Also, you can get Microsoft Office Suite software for free with a student email address.”

A company spokesperson told ABC News in a statement overnight that it asked third-party sellers offering solar eclipse glasses to provide documentation to verify that their "products were compliant with relevant safety standards."

"The offers from sellers who provided this safety documentation remain available to customers," the spokesperson said.

Sellers who did not provide documentation for their listings have been removed from the site. Amazon did not name any of those listings or specific brands in its statement.

Amazon confirmed that it issued refunds to some customers who purchased glasses that may not meet industry standards.

Last week, Fred Espenak, retired NASA astrophysicist and photographer, told ABC News that he has heard rumors of counterfeit glasses being sold online.

Espenak, NASA and the American Astronomical Society (AAS) suggest that consumers purchase off the AAS's approved list of companies that manufacture and/or sell eclipse glasses and handheld solar viewers, which have been verified by an accredited testing laboratory to meet the ISO 12312-2 international safety standard.

"They've been put through a testing procedure to demonstrate that they're dark enough to prevent visible as well as ultraviolet and infrared light from passing through it," Espenak said.

Some companies are placing an ISO label on their counterfeit glasses, which is why following the list of manufacturers is a surefire way to know you're being safe, according to the AAS.

Here is a growing list from the AAS of approved companies that manufacture and/or sell glasses through vendors and retailers.

The AAS says on its website that just because they do not list a supplier, that does not indicate that "their products are unsafe," but rather that the AAS does not yet have the knowledge of that particular seller or that they have not verified the brand is safe.

The consequence of wearing glasses that aren't specially made to deal with the visible light from a solar eclipse and invisible radiation could be "serious eye injury, perhaps even blindness," according to the AAS, which also noted that special-purpose solar filters are many thousands of times darker than ordinary sunglasses.

Read more on how to avoid buying counterfeit glasses ahead of the Aug. 21 solar eclipse here.

]]>Dan Kitwood/Getty Images(NEW YORK) -- With millions purchasing protective eyewear ahead of the Aug. 21 solar eclipse, Amazon is working to remove potentially counterfeit glasses from its marketplace and issue refunds to those who have already bought them online.

A company spokesperson told ABC News in a statement overnight that it asked third-party sellers offering solar eclipse glasses to provide documentation to verify that their "products were compliant with relevant safety standards."

"The offers from sellers who provided this safety documentation remain available to customers," the spokesperson said.

Sellers who did not provide documentation for their listings have been removed from the site. Amazon did not name any of those listings or specific brands in its statement.

Amazon confirmed that it issued refunds to some customers who purchased glasses that may not meet industry standards.

Last week, Fred Espenak, retired NASA astrophysicist and photographer, told ABC News that he has heard rumors of counterfeit glasses being sold online.

Espenak, NASA and the American Astronomical Society (AAS) suggest that consumers purchase off the AAS's approved list of companies that manufacture and/or sell eclipse glasses and handheld solar viewers, which have been verified by an accredited testing laboratory to meet the ISO 12312-2 international safety standard.

"They've been put through a testing procedure to demonstrate that they're dark enough to prevent visible as well as ultraviolet and infrared light from passing through it," Espenak said.

Some companies are placing an ISO label on their counterfeit glasses, which is why following the list of manufacturers is a surefire way to know you're being safe, according to the AAS.

Here is a growing list from the AAS of approved companies that manufacture and/or sell glasses through vendors and retailers.

The AAS says on its website that just because they do not list a supplier, that does not indicate that "their products are unsafe," but rather that the AAS does not yet have the knowledge of that particular seller or that they have not verified the brand is safe.

The consequence of wearing glasses that aren't specially made to deal with the visible light from a solar eclipse and invisible radiation could be "serious eye injury, perhaps even blindness," according to the AAS, which also noted that special-purpose solar filters are many thousands of times darker than ordinary sunglasses.

Read more on how to avoid buying counterfeit glasses ahead of the Aug. 21 solar eclipse here.

]]>Merck CEO resigns from Trump's manufacturing council over the president's remarks on Charlottesvillehttp://stillwaterradio.net/abc-business-news/9face3112d15c711a84157d5dc444fa7
Mon, 14 Aug 2017 08:56:00 -0500http://stillwaterradio.net/abc-business-news/9face3112d15c711a84157d5dc444fa7ABC News(NEW YORK) -- Merck CEO Kenneth Frazier announced Monday that he's resigning from the president's American Manufacturing Council amid the ongoing criticism over the president's remarks on the weekend protests in Charlottesville, Virginia.

Frazier said in statement that as a "matter of personal conscience, I feel a responsibility to take a stand against intolerance and extremism."

"America's leaders must honor our fundamental values by clearly rejecting expressions of hatred, bigotry and group supremacy, which run counter to the American ideal that all people are created equal," Frazier said.

The president responded on Twitter, slamming the pharmaceutical executive's decision.

Now that Ken Frazier of Merck Pharma has resigned from President's Manufacturing Council,he will have more time to LOWER RIPOFF DRUG PRICES!

On Saturday, Trump said the hatred, bigotry and violence in Charlottesville needs to end on "many sides."

He was summarily criticized for not directly condemning white supremacy and extremist groups.

A White House official said on Saturday the president was "condemning hatred, bigotry and violence from all sources and all sides" when asked what Trump meant when he condemned the "many sides" involved in the Charlottesville rally.

]]>ABC News(NEW YORK) -- Merck CEO Kenneth Frazier announced Monday that he's resigning from the president's American Manufacturing Council amid the ongoing criticism over the president's remarks on the weekend protests in Charlottesville, Virginia.

Frazier said in statement that as a "matter of personal conscience, I feel a responsibility to take a stand against intolerance and extremism."

"America's leaders must honor our fundamental values by clearly rejecting expressions of hatred, bigotry and group supremacy, which run counter to the American ideal that all people are created equal," Frazier said.

The president responded on Twitter, slamming the pharmaceutical executive's decision.

Now that Ken Frazier of Merck Pharma has resigned from President's Manufacturing Council,he will have more time to LOWER RIPOFF DRUG PRICES!

On Saturday, Trump said the hatred, bigotry and violence in Charlottesville needs to end on "many sides."

He was summarily criticized for not directly condemning white supremacy and extremist groups.

A White House official said on Saturday the president was "condemning hatred, bigotry and violence from all sources and all sides" when asked what Trump meant when he condemned the "many sides" involved in the Charlottesville rally.

]]>TIKI Brand condemns white nationalists' use of tiki torcheshttp://stillwaterradio.net/abc-business-news/44f5dba819c20c1805da57f3df8194e8
Sun, 13 Aug 2017 19:13:00 -0500http://stillwaterradio.net/abc-business-news/44f5dba819c20c1805da57f3df8194e8iStock/Thinkstock(NEW YORK) -- After white nationalists were seen holding tiki torches while marching through the University of Virginia on Friday night, TIKI Brand Products came out with a statement denouncing the extremists.

"TIKI Brand is not associated in any way with the events that took place in Charlottesville and are deeply saddened and disappointed," the tiki torch-maker said. "We do not support their message or the use of our products in this way. Our products are designed to enhance backyard gatherings and to help family and friends connect with each other at home in their yard."

The white supremacists chanted "white lives matter," "you will not replace us," and "blood and soil" -- a phrase associated with Nazis -- ahead of Saturday's far-right "Unite the Right" rally to protest the removal of a Confederate statue in Charlottesville, Virginia.

Violence erupted on Saturday when the rally-goers clashed with counter-protesters, and one 32-year-old woman died when a car crashed into a group of demonstrators protesting against the white nationalists. Two Virginia State Police officers were also killed when the helicopter they were in to monitor the protests crashed nearby.

]]>iStock/Thinkstock(NEW YORK) -- After white nationalists were seen holding tiki torches while marching through the University of Virginia on Friday night, TIKI Brand Products came out with a statement denouncing the extremists.

"TIKI Brand is not associated in any way with the events that took place in Charlottesville and are deeply saddened and disappointed," the tiki torch-maker said. "We do not support their message or the use of our products in this way. Our products are designed to enhance backyard gatherings and to help family and friends connect with each other at home in their yard."

The white supremacists chanted "white lives matter," "you will not replace us," and "blood and soil" -- a phrase associated with Nazis -- ahead of Saturday's far-right "Unite the Right" rally to protest the removal of a Confederate statue in Charlottesville, Virginia.

Violence erupted on Saturday when the rally-goers clashed with counter-protesters, and one 32-year-old woman died when a car crashed into a group of demonstrators protesting against the white nationalists. Two Virginia State Police officers were also killed when the helicopter they were in to monitor the protests crashed nearby.